Cane-harvesting machine.



T. J. PETERS. CANE HARVESTING MACHINE.- APPLICATION FILED DBO. 26,1906.

Patented June 29, 1909.

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T. J. PETERS. (JANE HARVESTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATIQN rum) nno.ae,1aos.

Patented June 29, 1909.

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ms unmus P5.'Ens co., WASMIHGYON, n. c.

T.J.PETER&

mm: HARVESTING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED DBO.28,1906.' 926, 599,Patented June 29, 1909.

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T. J. PETERS. (JANE HARVESTING MACHINE. AHLIOATION rum: nno.2a,19oa.

Patented June 29, 1909.

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THE npnms PETER! cm, v/Asumardu. u. c.

UNItTEE CANE -HARVESTING ISIACHINE Application filed December 26, 1906.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knmvn that l, 'iuonas J. PIP/H1125, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Perrine, county of iilade, and State of 1 lorida, hainvented certain new and useful improvements in Cane-llarvestingMachines of which the following is a spcciiicat ion.

ihisinvention relates to cane or stall; har- Tsting machines.

An object of the invention is to provide a machine which will presentsugar cane or stalks to a cutting mechanism; uprighting fallen stalltsor cane and will deliver the cut cane or stalks to a stripping mechanismand thence to a chopping mechanism.

Other and further objects of my invention will appear in the followingdescription. and will be more particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

in the drawings: i of an embodiment of n is a side elevation. form ofthe st ri ping element. l. is an. enlarged vorticz section of thestripping and the chopping mechanisms. i ig. 5 is a detail plan view ofthe cutting mechanism. Fig. 6 is a detail side view of the cuttingmechanism. f ig. 7 is a detail view of a portion of one embodiment of mystripper. S is a detail view of still another embodiment of my stripper.i ig. 9 is a detail view of a linger for presenting the cane or stall;lo the cutting mechanism. it) is a detail perspective view of anotherembodiment of one of the stripping elements. l l is a perspective viewof stripping element of still another embodiment of my invention. i2 isa section on the line 1:. --l2 Q. looking in the direction of the arrow.B 13 is a longitudinal section of a portion of a machine employing theembodiment. shown in Fig. 11. ig. ll is a longitudinal section of aportion of a machine employing the embodiment shown in '15 is a iongitudinal section of a portion of a machine employing the embodimentshown in it).

Referring more particularly to the drawings 1 indicates the maintraction wheels connected by an axle 2. Axle 2 supports a frame whichextends forwardly and downwardly therefrom and which comprises twotriangular side members 3. The forward and lower ends of said sidemembers each carry a guard frame 4 which is provided with a caster orroller 5 and is pivoted at 6 to its side member so as to rise and fallto travel over igure 1 is a planvicw 1y invention. 1 1;; O

3 is a detail of one Patented June 29, 1909.

Serial No. 349,523.

uneven ground. .l hrch guard frame also carries a guard formed of twodiverging arms 7 and H respectively. the said arms being directedupwardly. These guards serve to guide the machine between the rows ofcane or stalks and, at the same time should any of the stalks havefallen, they will be uprighted and directed between the two guards uponthe two guard frames Vfhcn the cane or stalhs have been in this mannerbunched they are caught by two opposed iiiigrrs t) at the lower end ofthe frame and presented to the cutting mechanism hereinafterto bedescribed. iihese lingers shownin detail in t) extend laterally from twoendless chains '10 which pass about sprockets 11 and 12 mounted in pairsrespectively near the top and the bottom of the side members 3, so thatthe lingers while traveling are maintained horizontally. On the'downward movement the lingers travel on traclcs 13 located on theoutside of the side members, while upon their upward movement. theytravel upon an endless belt or carrier 1+t arranged between the sidemembers. Mounted upon horizontal axes at the top and bottom respectivelyof the side members, are pulleys or rollers 15 and 16 about which theendless carrier lelpasses upwardly and rearwardly above and downwardlyand for wardly below the plane of the axes of said rollers l5 and 16.The upper sprockets it have bevel gears 17 connected therewith, one gearbeing connected with each sprocket. 'lhc bevel gears 17 are connected bya shaft its which carries bevel gears 19 meshing with bevel gears 17.Shaft 18 is connected by a chain,2t) with a sprocket 31 on a shaft 22which is connected by a belt 2S; with a large sproclwt 24 on axle 2,before mentioned. The endless carrier I l receives motion from shaft 22by means of a gear 23 on the latter, meshing with a gear B t on theshaft of pulley 15 of the former.

The cutting mechanism hercinbefore mentioned, may be of any desired formand is arranged below the endless carrier 14 and in advance thereof. Apreferred form comprises bar having tixed. guard lingers 2T amt areciprocating cutter bar 26 having teeth projecting tlwrofrom andcooperating with the guard lingers 27. The cutter bar 26 isreciprocz'rted by means of a crank dish 28 carried by one end of a shaft29. Shaft. 29 is journaled in a swinging frame 30, being connected bybevel gear 231 with a bevel gear 32 mechanism frame rise and fall indcsecured to a shaft 33 about which the cutting mechanism frame 30 swings.

'rame 30 carries a pair of wheels 34 to maintain the cutters a properposition above the ground. is apparent that the cutting it entlv of theside members 3, thus permniing the cutters to out the stalks close totheir roots upon uneven ground. To prevent the cutting mechanismentering ruts or other like depressions, the f end of the cutt ngmechanism frame is connected to the side iiem bers 8 by chains 35. Thecutting mechanism may receive its power from any suitable source, but itis pre red to connect shaft 33 by a belt or chain to a sprocket orpulley 37 on shaft 5: 8, a chain or belt 39 connecting a small sproclior pulley 410, on shaft 38 with a sproci t or pulley 41 on axle 2.

As the cane or tai s are out, their lower ends are e aged by a tripperbar l? carried by the cu ng mechanism frame, and this, together with thefin rs 9, causes the cane or stalks to drop on the endless carrier 14with their top toward the rear of the machine. The endless carrier,moving upwardly and toward the rear of the machine, carries the cane orstalks endwise upwardly and rearwardly, the lingers serving clamp thebutt ends of the cane or stalks rpon the carrier. upper end of thecarrier they pass beneath a roller TO'which directs them between pair offeeding rollers 43 and 4 a chain connecting a sprocl-tet l6 on thelatter with a sprocket l? on the shaft of the pulley 15. l rom thefeeding rolls 4B and the cane or stallcs pass the stripping mocha ism.The stripping mechanism comprises one or more pairs of stri )pi elementsM (two '1 is and lo being shown) carrying hooned ringers 49.

These belts moving in a direction opposite to I the direction of feed ofthe feeding rolls 43 and li, strip the leaves from the cane or stalksand convey the leaves to chutes which discharge said leaves to one side?of the machine. Should any of the leaves not be stripped by the firstpair of belts 47 and d8 the cane or stalks are fed by second of feedrolls and 52 a second pair of stripping belts, and from the second nairof ripping belts the cane passes a Lillld pair of feeding rolls and 54which deliver the cane or stains to the chopping or cutting mechanism to be hereinafter described.

tripping elements may be in the form rs sin) "n in Figs. 1, 2 and 8 inwhich composed of two layers of canvas or other fabric, and fingersformed from a strip of heavy wire bent into U-shapc and having deflectedends to provide the hooks. Each strip thus provides two fingers 49 whichpass thron one layer of tile fabric and a connecting piece 55 which liesbetween the m p v ihe swinging When the cane or stalks reach the i 1layers and holds the I air of fingers to the belt, the layers of thebelt being sewed. together on opposite sides of the piece 55. instead ofcanvas belts, the strippers may be formed of bolts as shown in Fig.

,ndless chains or cables 56 connected by wooden strips 5. These woodenstrips are perforated and a strip of wire bent intermediate its ends toform connecting member 58 and two fingers which are shaped, "he lowerportion fitting in a perforation and he inter iediate portion forming aspring for the extreme end portion. The strippers are cleaned bycleaning fingers 6O wh ch are so positioned that, when the hooked orstripping fingers pass by the said cleanin fingers, anyleaves on thestripping fingers cleaned oil. The stripping mechanism is driven frompulley or sprocket 61 on feed roll 54: by means of a belt or chain 62wh'ch connects with each stripping element in a mani'ier to drive it inthe proper direction. Both pairs of feed rolls 51, (.2 and 53, 541-, arealso driven by he same belt or chain.

The embodiment of my invention s owi in Fig. 13 and in detail in Figs.11 and 2 i the same as in Fig. 4 except that the slipping mechanismseach comprise to r endless belt-s 100 arranged in upper and in lowerpairs and movable transversely of the direction of the feed of thestalks about pulleys 101, 102, 103 and 10% at each side of the machine.The pulleys are driven by any suitable means so that the belts of eachpair move in opposite directions and the opposite belts of the two pairsalso move in opposite directions. in the construction shown, shaft 105and 106 provided and-earl bevel gears 10? which mesh with like gears onthe shafts of the feed rolls in advance the l strijping mechanism. ofthe pulleys of l each pair of belts namely 102 103 are i secured to theshafts 105 and 106 so as to turn therewith while the other pulleys 101and 104 turn loosely on said shafts and are geared by idlers 108 and18-9 with the o -posite shaft. in this embodiment to prevent the or canebeing 3I'6S611t6il to the chopping mechanism in bunches, there isprovided a spreading mechanism. This spreading mechanism is also adaptedfor any embodiment of my machine and comprises a rectai'igular frame118- positioned vertically in the frame of the macl'iine and carrying anendless chain 111 which travels about two series of sprockets 112, thetwo series being arranged one below and one above the line of feed ofthe material and the chain passing alternately about a lower and anupper sprocket. One of these sprockets has a gear carried by its shaftand meshing with a chain 113 which meshes with a stub shaft 114i gearedto one of the feed rolls. i

in the embodiment shown in Fig 1e and l in 7 comp rising l claim as arein the form of a pair of drums 59 having hooked iingers 115 exte idmgthcrel'rom.

'llie rolls rotate in a direction o ipositc to the feed and are gearedby chains 13 6 to the loud rolls. Fig. Lt has the spreadin mechanism lstripi'iing mechanism comprises drums 1717 l straight lingers 118extending "h nil gcaicd by chains H9 to the to s to re ate ii: zdirection oppcsitei' t H The (lien wing mechanism comprises a roll 63geared hv chain a l to the last lower l'eed roll 5st, and a revolvinlinile 65 geared to the roll 63. The stalks or passing l'roni the last'leed rolls 53 and 1 iter hot-ween t ie chi'ipping roll 63 an; thelilillC 65. The ionic cuts the stalks or cane to the desired length andthe cut portions are led irarward to a hopper o "hi to G6 which isclosed liy a door 67. Tins door is constricted to open automaticallywhen the s i i chopped stalks e Ci ne has lxecii col the hopper, thusdischarging the stalks or cane in measured. piles upon the ground. Forthis purpose spring latch 68 is provided and yields when a certainweight bears against the door 67. Or it desired, the operator may, whenhopper is tilled, disciiarge the material into awagonor otherreJeptacle.

The machine may he prope led in any suitahle manner.

thus descril ei'l my invention what,

i e"v therein is:

1. In cane or stalk harvester, the condunation with a main frame, of apair of guard l'raincs pivotally mounted on the main Ira-me and providedwith carryug rollcrs upon their forward ends, and a cutting mechanismalso nmtall mounted oil said main frame and arranged to cut the stalksoi cane near their lower ends.

ccted in tall; harvester COiHpllSliitI a mechanism, an endless carrierfor the cane or stalks to th stripping iism, and a cutting mechanismswingii .iarvester, the conilaination with the endl ss carrie ol' a pairof endless hells t"-i-rcling in a plane parallel to the endless carrierand in close proximity th reto, a cutting mechanism in arvance ol' thecarrier; and lingers projecting l'roin the dless hell's in. such manneras to he adapted an e or stalks hctwcen the endnd said angers.

or stain cutter comprising an er, a i ianisin mountti *0 el' 1 i and hlow t1 l c: lower ends ol' the ii'li ther. onto the carrier, ed tiprepair oi l l stri ipiiirz; mechanism mount in a cane or stall:harvester, the comj hinaiion with the main l'rame rovided with thetraction wheels, ot a cutting iiioclianisiii pivoted thereon and adaptedto he driver hy said tract ion \vlcels; an endless carrier driven l vii-e tract ion wheels, said carrier hei ing adapt ed to remove the rut(time or stalk i'roiii cuttu HiOti'ifliiiSlil; a ed upon the main ."PHIOaiio driven l v said traction wheels, said "ii })lfll' incciianisiiibeing adapted to i e the cane endwise l'roiii said carrier; and achopping mechanism mounted upon mic l'raine on an axis transverse to toeendwise path ol'the cane and rotalalily driven liy said stripping;mechanism, all ol said iiicclizinism heizig arraigial Yliiliitll'icdll Ywith repect to the same vertical plane.

6. in coiiiliiiiation with a -ane or harvester, an inclined endlesscarrier, means including a plurality ol' 'i'ii gei's adapted, to holdthe cane lengthwise upon the indlcss carrier, means l'or oringing saidlingers into cooperative relation with said carrier at the bottom of theincline and lurthcr means for removing the [i1 21ers away ll'Olli thecarrier at the top of the incline.

7. in a cane harvesting machine, in which the cane is led through themachine in a direction substantially parallel to a verticallongitudii'ial plane through the machine, the p st alk nhiiiation ,viththe main 'lranie; of a cutabout an axis transverse to the direction ofmovement ol' the cane; a stripping mechanism comprising rotatingeleiiient-s mounted within the lraiiie upon axes transverse to thedirection of movement of the cane; means for feeding the cut caneend'ivise l'roni the cutting inecli: i ism to the stripping mechanism; acl oppii g mechanism mountedupoiithe main 'ranie and comprisingclen'ieiits rotating upon iries transverse to the path of eiidwisemovement ol' the cane, said chopping mechanism being driver by tliestripping mechanism; in wins l'or feeding the cane ondwise iron: thestripping mechanism to the chopping ,im.chanisiii; and a main tractionwheel on the main frame connected up in driving relation with thecutting, st ripping and chopping mechanism, all 01' said mechanism being.arrz'iiiged symmetrically with respect to the medial vertical planethrough the machine.

8. in a cane harvesting iiiac-liine, the coinliinatioii with the cuttingmechanism; ol a mechanism l'or stripping and chopping the ane; aninclined endless carrier for conveying cut cane eiidwisc ll'Olii thecutting mechanism to the stripping and chopping mechanism; a pair ofendless chains traveling in a plane parallel to that ol the endlesscarrier and in close juxtaposition thereto; and a plurality of fingersprojecting from each of said endless chains, all of said parts beingarranged symmetrically With respect to the same vertical plane.

9. In a cane harvesting machine, the combination with a cuttingmechanism and the inclined endless carrier for conveying cut canetherefrom, of a pair of endless chains traveling in a planeparallel tothat of the endless carrier, and in close juxtaposition thereto aplurality of fingers carried by said endless chains and finger supprting tracks also in a plane parallel to that of the carrier and one oneach side thereof, said fingers being adapted to travel over the carrierin one direction and upon the tracks during their movement in theopposite direction.

10. in a cane harvesting machine, the comoination with a cuttingmechanism, of a mechanism for stripping and chopping the cane, aninclined endless carrier for conveying cut cane from the cuttingmechanism to the stripping and chopping mechanism, and a pair of endlesschains traveling in a plane parallel to that oi the endless carrier andin close proximity thereto, and having fingers projecting therefrom.

11. In a cane harvesting machine provided with a main traction Wheel,the com- 1 bination with the cuttin mechanism; 01' a stripping andchopping mechanism 3 an inclined endless carrier having means forclarnping the cut cane lengthwise thereon and moving between the cuttingand stripping mechanisms in such manner as to present the cane endwiseto the latter; and means for driving the several parts from said maintraction Wheel, all o'l' said parts being cooperatively adapted to feedthe stalks end- Wise through the machine Without lateral deviation.

he foregoing specification signed at Miami, Fla, this 4th day o'l-September, 1906.

THQMAS J. PETERS.

in presence of two Witnesses:

W. HORNER,

J L. TERRYBERRY.

